The 2013 edition of Barry’s Roubaix presented by Local Ride Bike Shop, a road cycling race modeled after the legendary European Spring Classics, is set to descend upon the roads and dykes of Pitt Meadows on Sunday, April 7th - the same day as the Paris-Roubaix race in France which inspires this local version.

“Paris-Roubaix is famous for its long and arduous sections of cobblestones, which we try to mimic by running our course along the rough dyke. Pitt Meadows is also often battered by winds, which will challenge the racers, just like in the real Paris-Roubaix,” said race organizer Barry Lyster.

Lyster makes the Pitt Meadows version of the event more accessible to a wider range of riders than the French version, however. “Our Novice category riders will only have to complete about 40 kilometres and not the 250 kilometres the ProTour guys are doing in France,” he said. The elite men will contest a 120 kilometre race.

The Pitt Meadows race is held on a 10 kilometre loop featuring roughly 5 kilometres of the Pitt Meadows Dyke system, along with rural farm roads. The course contains no significant elevation gain, but the substantial gravel sector takes its toll over multiple laps. Plus, the area can be subject to game-changing winds. This race favours powerful riders, but the smaller wily competitors should not be discounted.

Barry’s Roubaix is also offering a U17 Youth category, giving young riders an opportunity to get a taste of what has become a spring tradition of its own in Pitt Meadows.

Early-bird registration is now open online for a discounted rate of $40 until January 31st. Visit www.karelo.com to register.